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Lesson 35 of 238

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Free Spanish CourseLesson 35 of 238

Something's wrong in Spanish

Justin is lost, his map app won't open, and the street sign isn't helping. Amanda meets him on her way to work.

You'll learn to explain a problem, say you've lost something, and tell someone you feel awful.

These short lines help when you can't explain every detail yet. Unfortunately, Justin's paper map has disappeared too.

By the end of this lesson

Explain that something is wrong, doesn't work, is lost, or that you feel awful.

  • Tengo un problemaI've got a problem
  • Algo anda malSomething's wrong
  • No funcionaIt doesn't work
  • Perdí ___I lost ___
  • Me perdíI'm lost
  • Me siento malI feel awful
  • No puedo leer ___I can't read ___

Scene — a difficult morning

It's morning on a street in El Laurel. Amanda is walking to work when she spots Justin looking between his phone and a faded street sign.

He checks his empty pocket as if his paper map might change its mind.

Amanda pauses on her walk to work as Justin looks between his phone and a faded street sign while checking an empty pocket.

Learn — explain the problem

There are seven lines to learn. Tap ▶ and say each one out loud.

Learn them as useful pieces; you don't need a long explanation to describe a problem.

  1. Justin faces Amanda with a worried expression and an open-handed gesture as he explains that he has a problem.

    Tengo un problema

    I've got a problem

    When to use it: Start with this when you need to explain that something is wrong.

  2. Justin studies his phone with a puzzled frown and points out that something seems wrong.

    Algo anda mal

    Something's wrong

    When to use it: Say this when you notice a problem but don't know exactly what it is.

    Learn this as one piece.

  3. Justin taps his unresponsive phone screen while Amanda watches his frustrated demonstration.

    No funciona

    It doesn't work

    When to use it: Use this for an app, machine, or other thing that doesn't work.

  4. Justin pulls out an empty pocket lining and looks dismayed as he tells Amanda that he lost his paper map.

    Perdí ___

    I lost ___

    When to use it: Tell someone which thing you lost.

    Fill the blank with the lost thing, like mi mapa: my map.

    Say it: Stress the last part: pehr-DEE.

  5. Justin stands uncertainly at a street junction and gestures toward two possible directions while telling Amanda he is lost.

    Me perdí

    I'm lost

    When to use it: Say this when you don't know where you are or which way to go.

    This means you're lost, not that you lost an object.

  6. Justin looks drained and uncomfortable this morning, touching his forehead while Amanda listens with concern.

    Me siento mal

    I feel awful

    When to use it: Tell someone you feel unwell.

  7. Justin squints at the faded street sign and points to its worn surface as he tells Amanda he cannot read it.

    No puedo leer ___

    I can't read ___

    When to use it: Explain that you can't read a sign, message, or other written thing.

    Fill the blank with the unreadable thing, like el letrero: the sign.

Story — the map won't open

Watch how Justin explains each problem without a long speech. Amanda looks at his phone, but the trouble doesn't stop there.

Follow the highlighted lines, and use Show English if you get stuck.

  1. AmandaBuenos días.Good morning.
  2. JustinTengo un problema.I've got a problem.
  3. Justin¿Puedes ver esto?Can you look at this?
  4. Justin shows Amanda the map app stuck on its opening screen.
  5. AmandaAlgo anda mal.Something's wrong.
  6. JustinNo funciona.It doesn't work.
  7. Amanda points at the street sign, but its letters are badly faded.
  8. JustinNo puedo leer el letrero.I can't read the sign.
  9. JustinMe perdí.I'm lost.
  10. Justin checks the same empty pocket twice.
  11. JustinPerdí mi mapa.I lost my map.
  12. Amanda¿Cómo estás?How are you?
  13. JustinMe siento mal.I feel awful.

Practice — what went wrong?

Try ten exercises about things going wrong. You'll listen, match, choose, and build short lines.

Keep trying or use the skip button. Each explanation helps you understand the answer.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    Spanish

    Tengo un problemaDrop the English here
    Algo anda malDrop the English here
    No puedo leer ___Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its Spanish, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    Your paper map is missing. Tell Amanda you lost it, naming the thing you lost.

  4. What does it mean?

    Me perdí

  5. Fill the gap

    I feel awful

    Me siento ____

  6. Build the line

    Something's wrong

    Tap the words in order.

  7. What do you say?

    The street sign's letters are too faded to make out. Explain that you can't read the sign.

  8. What does it mean?

    Buenos días.

  9. What do you say?

    Hold out your phone and ask Amanda to look at what's on its screen.

  10. Build the line

    It doesn't work

    Tap the words in order.

Say it — tell Amanda

Play Justin while Amanda speaks first. Tap the microphone to explain each problem, or tap ▶ for the model line.

Your recording stays on your device. You can use the skip button whenever you need to.

  1. AmandaBuenos días.Good morning.
  2. Justin (you)Tell her you've got a problem.

    Tengo un problema

    I've got a problem

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

SpanishEnglish
Tengo un problemaI've got a problem
Algo anda malSomething's wrong
No funcionaIt doesn't work
Perdí ___I lost ___
Me perdíI'm lost
Me siento malI feel awful
No puedo leer ___I can't read ___
Next: lesson 36I forgot, and I'm late

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